Ladies of all ages came out for the 2008 Miss Christmas Holiday Beauty Pageant in Ludowici.

The 2008 Miss Christmas Holiday Beauty Pageant took place Dec. 6 in Ludowici. The event was held at Long County High School. Debbie Gaitten was the emcee for the night, and the judges were Lisa Wells and Deborah Winn-Smith.The night was organized by KIDS-ETC, which holds the pageant to raise money to help young women in the community.According to Gaitten, the group awards scholarships to worthy girls and helps them with other needs.“We have bought glasses for kids who need glasses, bought caps and gowns for seniors who can’t afford them, and helped people in need buy food,” Gaitten said. “If there is a need, we will help who we can.”Fifteen contestants compete for awards in divisions ranging from Baby Miss to Mrs.Winning the Baby Miss Crown was Katie Boggs, while Abigail Pits was the first runner-up and Julia Crews was the second runner-up. Boggs also won the division’s Best Dressed Award, while Pitts won the Best Smile Award.In the Toddler Miss division, Brooklynn Howard swept the competition, winning the Best Dressed and Best Smile awards, and also being crowned the Christmas Holiday Queen.In the Tiny Miss division, Holland McKinleigh Allen also won three categories: Best Dressed, Best Smile and Tiny Miss Christmas.In the Petite Miss division, Ashlynn Howard took home the Best Dressed and Best Smile awards, and was crowned Petite Miss Christmas.In the Pre-Teen division, Margaret Alexander was crowned the Queen. The first runner-up was Xena Lewallen, who also won the Best Dressed and Best Smile awards.In the Junior Miss division, Shelby Clark was crowned the Queen, Ashley Riles, Mary Alexander and Megan Alexander were the first, second and third runner-up. Riles also won the Best Dressed and best Smile Awards.Winning the Miss Christmas Holiday Queen was Leslie Zechman, who also won the Best Dressed and Best Smile awards in the division.In the Mrs. Division, Traci McGowan was crowned the Queen and won the Best Smile award, while Cynthia Alexander was the first runner-up and the Best Dressed winner.Earning special awards were Michelle Lewallen, who won the Caught Being Good Award; Abigail Pitts, who was the Most Sponsored Queen; and Cynthia Alexander, who was the People’s Choice Queen.Xena Lewallen was also crowned the Miss Christmas Holiday Overall Queen in the Baby Miss through Pre-Teen divisions. Taking the overall crown in the Junior Miss through Mrs. divisions was Ashley Riles.